Rug storage and display apparatus



lg- 15, 957 HANS-GEORG FRoMME ET AL 3,3355l1 RUG STORAGE AND DISPLAYAPPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 9, 1965 ug. 15, 1967 HAN5GE0RGFROMME ET AL 3,335,51

RUG STORAGE AND DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Feb. 9, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Huw/A MAMMA, m2( w Aug. l5, 1967 HANS-GEORG FRQMME ET A1. 3,335,511

RUG STORAGE AND DISPLAY APPARATUS C5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 9, 1965United States Patent 3,335,511 RUG STORAGE AND DISPLAY APPARATUSHans-Georg Fromme and Herbert Sauerborn, Wetzlar, Germany, assignors toFromme, Forderanlagen G.m.b.H., Wetzlar, Germany, a corporation ofGermany Filed Feb. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 431,424 Claims priority,application Germany, Feb. 14, 1964, F 42,022; May 26, 1964, F 42,991 11Claims. (Cl. 40-30) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for storing,displaying and returning to storage of rugs in hanging position isdisclosed and claimed and includes a main rail hung from overheadhanging means, a plurality of storage rails also hung from the samehanging means and arran-ged parallelly to each other, each rail leadinginto the main rail which is at an angle to the parallel rails. Theapparatus is provided with `rollers which ride on the rails. Hangermeans depend from the rollers for suspending the rugs in verticalposition for display and storage purposes. The apparatus is furtherprovided with switching means and with means for lowering to the floorand then re-raising a rug which is being displayed.

This invention relates to apparatus for handling large objects, such asrugs, and particularly to apparatus for both storing and displayin-gsuch rugs.

To display rugs to prospective purchasers it has been proposed to employhanger rods extending radially outward from a common axis and attachedto a pillar or to the ceiling for rotation about said axis. With thistype of arrangement, side-by-side comparison of several rugs could notbe made.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provideapparatus which makes possible the side-by-side comparison of diiterentrugs.

It is another object to provide apparatus for both storage andside-by-side display of more than one rug.

It is still another object to provide apparatus capable of removing rugsfrom storage and displaying them sideby-side, bot-h hanging and lying onthe oor.

These and other objects which will appear are accomplished in accordancewith the invention by means of apparatus comprising a plurality ofhanger arrangements engaging a corresponding number of storage rails.These storage rails are arranged side-by-side, -generally parallel toeach other, and all of them lead from the same side into a main railwhich is positioned at an angle to said rails opposite one end of saidrails. The connections between the storage rails and the main rail canbe established by aps in a manner somewhat akin to railroad switches.

One or more lifting and lowering stations may be connected to the mainrail. These consist of rail-sections suspended from cables which can bewound on motordriven pulleys. By means of this arrangement the rugs canrst be viewed as they hang side-by-side along the main rail, after whichthey can be lowered to the ground.

To restore such rugs to their storage rails, each switch may be providedwith a handle for opening the switch. Alternatively, an actuatingmechanism similar to a snapaction switch may be used in place of thehandle. This presupposes that the rugs are withdrawn from storage in apredetermined sequence. Specically, if the storage rails lead into themain rail from left to right, then the ru-gs must also be drawn fromleft to right from the storage rails onto the display rails. Should itbe desired to display the rugs in arbitrary sequence and still returneach one 3,335,511 Patented Aug'. 15, 1967 ICC to its particular storagerail, then an additional switch operating handle is still required.

For further details reference may be had to the accompanying drawingswherein FIGURE l shows in somewhat diagrammatic form an embodiment ofthe invention viewed from above, i.e. from the direction of the ceiling;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation of the `apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 shows the guide rail in cross-section and also shows the hangerin its relation to the rail;

FIGURES 4m and 4b show, partly in cross-section, an elevation and abottom view, respectively, of a switch arrangement for the apparatus ofFIGURE l;

FIGURE 5 shows a bottom view of an alternative form of switcharrangement, together with 'a hanger mechanism cooperating with thisswitch arrangement; and

FIGURE 6 shows a view of the apparatus of FIGURE 5 as seen from thedirection of arrow A in FIG. 5 and with the hanger mechanism in adiiIerent position relative to the switch.

Where appropriate, the same reference numerals are used to designatesimilar elements in different figures.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2, support rails 2 are anchored toceiling 1. Main rail 3 and storage rails 4 are all attached to supportrails 2. Extending beyond the end of main rail 3 are short rail sections6a and 6b. These are suspended, respectively, from cables 7a, 7b and 7c,7d.

The gaps between the various rail sections are kept so narrow that thecarrier rollers, or wheels 5 (see FIG. 3) bridge these gaps withoutd-iil'iculty. If it is desired to have the sections 6a and 6bappreciably separated from each other, a bridging rail section may beinserted between them.

The suspension cables are rolled upon, and unrolled from correspondingpairs of pulleys 10 and 11, driven by motors 8 and 9, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 3, rug 12 is suspended from a hanger 13 consisting ofan inverted U-shaped channel by means of rug pins, one of which is shownat 14. The channel 13 hangs from the carrier rollers 5 by a suspensionrod 15.

The hanger arrangement shown in FIG. 3 may be employed to suspend all ofthe rugs 12a through 12g illustrated by way of example in FIGURES 1 Iand2, it being understood that separate hangers 13, with adequate numbersof rollers 5 and pins 14, are used for the different rugs.

A typical switch 16 provided at the junction between each storage railand the main rail is shown in detail in FIGS. 4a and 4b, to whichreference may now -be had.

The guide slot 4a in the bottom of the storage rail 4 merges with theguide slot 3a in the bottom of the main rail 3 at the storage-rail,main-rail junction. A pointed iiap 16, -pivotable on a vertical shaft16e at its broad end, is positioned directly below their junction. Thisflap 16 is placed in such a way as to form a barrier across the guideslot 4a when in the upper of its vtwo possible positions shown in FIG.4b, and a barrier across slot 3a, when in the lower of said possiblepositions. Stop members 16b and 16s` limit the pivotal excursions of thepointed end of flap 16. A spring 16d engaging both rail 3 and ilap 16normally urges this flap into engagement with stop 16b, thereby normallyclosing off guide slot 4a, and the storage rail containing that guideslot. Thus a rug 12, when hanging in its storage rail, is retainedtherein and prevented from sliding into the main rail. On the otherhand, when the rug is pulled toward the main rail, the Hap 16 yields andopens the passage to the main rail, after which it returns to itsoriginal position under the pressure of spring 16d. A knob 16a, at-

tached to the lower end of the shaft on which flap 16 is mounted, can beturned to reopen the passage to storage rail 4 when it is desired toreturn the rug to that storage rail.

To make rugs available for customer selection, certain desired ones canbe withdrawn from storage and pulled onto the main rail 3, where theyhang side-by-side, in full view. To demonstrate their eiect on the iioor17, the desired rugs are pulled onto rail sections 6a and 6b. By pushingbuttons 18, motors 8 and 9 are activated and the rugs are lowered to theoor.

After inspection the motors r-oll cables 7a, 7b, and 7c, 7d up again,thereby drawing rail sections 6a, 6b Iback up to the level of main rail3.

Thereafter the rugs on display may be pulled back into their respectivestorage rails, the appropriate switches 16 being opened in the processby means of their respective knobs 16a.

In FIGURES and 6, to which reference may now be had, there is againillustrated a typical junction between a storage rail, designated byreference numeral 21, and the main or display rail, designated byreference numeral 22 in these figures. A switch rail 23 is mounted forpivotal motion about shaft 24, so that it can assume either the positionshown in solid lines in FIG. 5, or that shown in dot-dash lines in thesame gure. Arm 25a of lever linkage 25 is attached to switch rail 23.Another arm 25b of linkage 25 is pivotally attached to one end of lever26, whose other end is subjected to pressure fromI coil spring 27. Aroller 25d is mounted on linkage pivot 25C.

On rails 21 and 22 there travel the carrier rollers 28 from whose axlesupport member 29 is suspended. In FIGURE 5 these rollers are shown inyposition along main rail 22, while in FIGURE 6 they are shown inposition along storage rail 21. As shown in FIG. 6, rug 30 is attachedwith pins 31 to support member 29.

It will be understood that each rug will normally be suspended fromseveral support members 29. That one of these support members for anygiven rug which is the first to leave the storage rail (and also thelast to reenter the storage rail) is provided with a protrusion 29a atthe same level as roller 25d. This protrusion is shown in both FIGURES 5and 6.

As a rug 30 is drawn out from its storage rail 21, support member 29pushes open switch 23. By virtue of the snap-like action of leverlinkage 25 cooperating with lever 26 and spring 27, this switch thenremains in its open position,

When the rug returns to its storage rail 21, the -protrusion 29d, inmoving past roller 25d, displaces that roller and actuates the linkageto cause switch 23 to snap back into its closed position.

In order that each rug, after being displayed, may be returned to itsproperstorage rail, care should be taken that, in an arrangement inwhich the movement out of the storage rails is from left to right, therug hanging farthest to the left is pulled out first, after which thoseprogressively further to the right are pulled out. In `restoring therugs the one pulled out last must then be restored first.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for storing, displaying and returning to storage of rugs inhanging position, said apparatus comprising a main rail hung fromoverhead hanging means,

a plurality lof storage rails also hung from said hanging means, saidstorage rails being arranged substantially parallelly and side-by-sideto each other and each leading into said main rail from the same sidewith said main rail being positioned at an angle to said rails oppositeone end of said rails,

rollers engaging said rails for movement of rugs between said storageand main rails, and

hanger means depending from said rollers for suspend ing rugs invertical position for storage and display, said main rail, rollers andhanger means cooperating to permit movement of stored rugs hanging fromsaid hanger means from a storage area to display area and back to thestorage area.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising switch means at thejunction between each said storage rail and said main rail, said switchmeans being operable to alternately close said storage rail oit fromsaid main rail and establish an open path between said last-named rails,and means yieldingly urging said switch means to close said storage railoi from said main rail when said rollers means are on the storage rail,t-o open and hold open said path when said rollers move from saidstorage rail onto said main rail and to reclose said storage rail offfrom' said main rail when said rollers move from said main rail ontosaid storage rail.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a handle for manuallyoperating said switch means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising switch means at thejunction between each said storage rail and said main rail, said switchmeans being operable to alternately close said storage rail oit fromsaid main rail and establish an open path between said last-named rails,and snap-action means for operating said switch means to open and holdopen said path when said rollers move from said storage rail onto saidmain rail and to reclose said storage rail off from said main rail whensaid rollers move from said main rail onto said storage rail.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized in that said switchmeans comprises a member pivotable to block and unblock said pathbetween said storage and main rails.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further characterized in that said member ispivotable by said snap-action means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that one of saidhanger means is provided with a protrusion, and in that said snap-actionmeans is provided with an opposing protrusion, said snap-action meansbeing responsive to engagement of said protrusion to pivot said memberto block said path.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising lifting and loweringstations positioned at least at one end of said main rail.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 characterized in that each said stationcomprises a rail section, cables from which said rail section issuspended, and motor driven pulleys for reeling up said cables.

10. Apparatus for storing, displaying and returning to storage of rugsin hanging position, said apparatus comprising a main rail hung from aceiling, a plurality of storage rails also hung from said ceilingarranged parallel to each other side-by-side and all leading into saidmain rail from the same side, said main rail being opposite one end ofsaid side rails, rollers engaging said rails for movement of rugsbetween said storage and main rails, hanger means for suspending rugsfrom said rollers, switch means at the junction between each saidstorage rail and said main rail, said s-witch means being operable toalternately close said storage rail off from said main rail andestablish an open path between said last-named rails, means yieldinglyurging said switch means to close said storage rail from said main -railwhen said roller means are on the storage rail, to open and hold opensaid path when said rollers move from said storage rail onto said mainrail and to reclose said storage rail oit from said main rail when saidrollers move from said main rail onto said storage rail, and switchoperating means for operating said switch means.

11. Apparatus for storing, displaying and returning to storage of rugsin hanging position, said apparatus comprising a main rail hung from aceiling, a plurality of storage rails also hung from said ceilingarranged parallei to each other side-by-side and all leading into saidmain rail from the s ame side, said main rail being opposite one end ofsaid side rails, rollers engaging said rails for movement of rugsbetween said storage and main rails, hanger means for suspending rugsfrom said rollers, switch means at the junction Ibetween each storagerail and said main rail, said switch means being operable to alternatelyclose said storage rail oit from said main rail and establish an openpath between said last-named rails, switch operating means for operatingsaid switch means to open and hold open said path when said rollers movefrom said storage rail onto said main rail and to reclose said storagerail o from said main rail when said rollers move from said main railonto said storage rails, said switch means comprising a member pivotableby said switch operating means to block and unblock said path betweensaid storage and main rails, and further characterized in that one ofsaid hanger means is provided with a protrusion, and in that said switchoperating means is provided with an opposing protrusion, said switchoperating means being responsive to engagement of said protrusions topivot said pivotable member to block said path.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,009,797 7/ 1935 Hathaway et al.40-52 2,009,798 7/ 1935 Hathaway et al. 40-53 2,009,799 7/ 1935 Hathawayet al. Ll052 2,526,823 10/ 1950 Manseld 40-78 2,693,770 11/1954 Hubscher104-48 X 3,081,710 3/1963 Dehne 104-88 3,103,183 9/1963 Bradt et al.104-88 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. W. GRIEB, AssistantExaminer.

1. APPARATUS FOR STORING, DISPLAYING AND RETURNING TO STORAGE OF RUGS INHANGING POSITION, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A MAIN RAIL HUNG FROMOVERHEAD HANGING MEANS, A PLURALITY OF STORAGE RAILS ALSO HUNG FROM SAIDHANGING MEANS, SAID STORAGE RAILS BEING ARRANGED SUBSTANTIALLYPARALLELLY AND SIDE-BY-SIDE TO EACH OTHER AND EACH LEADING INTO SAIDMAIN RAIL FROM THE SAME SIDE WITH SAID MAIN RAIL BEING POSITIONED AT ANANGLE TO SAID RAILS OPPOSITE ONE END OF SAID RAILS, ROLLERS ENGAGINGSAID RAILS FOR MOVEMENT OF RUGS BETWEEN SAID STORAGE AND MAIN RAILS, ANDHANGER MEANS DEPENDING FROM SAID ROLLERS FOR SUSPENDING RUGS IN VERTICALPOSITION FOR STORAGE AND DISPLAY, SAID MAIN RAIL, ROLLERS AND HANGERMEANS COOPERATING TO PERMIT MOVEMENT OF STORED RUGS HANGING FROM SAIDHANGER MEANS FROM A STORAGE AREA TO DISPLAY AREA AND BACK TO THE STORAGEAREA.